Freshwater Bassin'

Smallmouth On the Run
(all photos in this post: Rochelle Adams)

There are pretty much only two reasons I am willing to wake up before light: work, and fishing. One of them I actually enjoy getting up for, and Sunday was no exception. My alarm went off at around 5:15, I rolled out of bed, grabbed some coffee and cereal, threw my canoe, rods and tackle in the car and headed to the closet local lake (less than two miles away). As I approached the lake and saw all of the cones blocking the road, I thought my day was busted. Hoards of bikers cruised by and I soon learned the Reston Triathlon was going on, so much for fishing.
I thought about going to bed, but instead decided to hit another local lake that is one of my trout fishing holes in winter and spring - I had never bass fished there in the summer, so what the hell. I'm glad I did, even thought the canoe would have to stay with the car; fishing from boats is not allowed on this lake. I would be shore-bound for the morning.
Within minutes ( 3rd cast?) I was hooked up with a largemouth bass, nothing big, but fun on the ultralight rods I've been using for these guys around here. The ultralights turn a 10-12 incher into a hog, and a 15 incher will damn near bend the rod tip to touch the butt. My tiny 3" slug-gos were like bass candy and I landed 3 more within 30 minutes. In under 3 hours I had landed 6 Largemouths and a Goggle-eye or Red-eye bass (depending on who you fish with). I hooked but missed at least as many. A very rewarding and relaxing morning, with the lake almost empty. Then the inevitable happened - my cell phone rang. It was Matt Grimes, he wanted to fish, and had a plan.
After a run and some sweet-talking about how nice it would be on the river, Rochelle and I packed some sandwiches. Matt and Paulina came over and we headed for Riverbend park, about 30 minutes from here. A nice little hike along the wooded flood plain got us to a spot where the girls could stretch out and relax while Matt and I fished. The girls waded out and sat on a rock while Matt started catching bait (he is a live bait fanatic, and I firmly believe he would rather catch bait than fish, not a bad guy to be fishing with). Meanwhile I started catching smallies right away on my trusty soft-plastics. I had moved up to a light action rod due to the current, but it was still a rod bender of a day.
Hooked up! Oh yeah - I had 3 smallies by the time Matt had caught a dozen crayfish, and that was just the beginning. I fished under the same riffle all afternoon While the girls ladies watched and caught up since the wedding. Rochelle also took photos (all the photos are are Rochelle's). Matt wandered around the river and caught a small catfish, but mostly just explored - its easy to burn an entire day up there just looking for another sweet spot, and there are plenty. I've done it more than my share of times at that park.
I landed 15 fish, easy in 2 hours. Most were very small, but it seems as indicated by numbers on this particular day the smallies are hopefully rebounding from the fish kills that have plagued the upper Potomac and its tributaries in the previous summers. The water was clean, the fish were healthy and plentiful - check out the rich golden color, no wonder people call them bronzebacks.
Heres a good action shot - check out the bend on the light action rod - in the lower right you can see the fish...
This is the nicest smallmouth I've caught in a few years since the fish kills(about a pound, maybe a bit more) , I'm being optimistic and reading this as a good sign.
So many times freshwater bass fishing can be slow and frustrating, and this was a good one. Not epic, but darn near perfect. (There has to be some kind of smallmouth canoe/camp trip on the horizon right guys?) There aren't many Sundays that can top catching both species of freshwater bass in one day (well, that Drum was caught on a Sunday too..). Tight lines!
(I want to say thanks again to Rochelle for being open-minded and going fishing with me and thanks for taking the pictures! All bass were released safe and sound)